Peralam Yegneswaran Prakash

Diversity, in-vitro virulence traits and antifungal susceptibility pattern of gastrointestinal yeast flora of healthy poultry, Gallus gallus domesticus

BackgroundPoultry farming and consumption of poultry (Gallus gallus domesticus) meat and eggs are common gastronomical practices worldwide. Till now, a detailed understanding about the gut colonisation of Gallus gallus domesticus by yeasts and their virulence properties and drug resistance patterns in available literature remain sparse. This study was undertaken to explore this prevalent issue.ResultsA total of 103 specimens of fresh droppings of broiler chickens (commercial G domesticus) and domesticated chickens (domesticated G domesticus) were collected from the breeding sites. The isolates comprised of 29 (33%) Debaryozyma hansenii (Candida famata), 12 (13.6%) Sporothrix catenata (C. ciferrii), 10 (11.4%) C. albicans, 8 (9.1%) Diutnia catenulata (C. catenulate), 6 (6.8%) C. tropicalis, 3 (3.4%) Candida acidothermophilum (C. krusei), 2 (2.3%) C. pintolopesii, 1 (1.1%) C. parapsilosis, 9 (10.2%) Trichosporon spp. (T. moniliiforme, T. asahii), 4 (4.5%) Geotrichum candidum, 3 (3.4%) Cryptococcus macerans and 1 (1%) Cystobasidium minuta (Rhodotorula minuta). Virulence factors, measured among different yeast species, showed wide variability. Biofilm cells exhibited higher Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values (μg/ml) than planktonic cells against all antifungal compounds tested: (fluconazole, 8–512 vs 0.031–16; amphotericin B, 0.5–64 vs 0.031–16; voriconazole 0.062–16 vs 0.062–8; caspofungin, 0.062–4 vs 0.031–1).ConclusionsThe present work extends the current understanding of in vitro virulence factors and antifungal susceptibility pattern of gastrointestinal yeast flora of G domesticus. More studies with advanced techniques are needed to quantify the risk of spread of these potential pathogens to environment and human.

Phytases of Probiotic Bacteria: Characteristics and Beneficial Aspects

Probiotics play a vital role in clinical applications for the treatment of diarrhea, obesity and urinary tract infections. Phytate, an anti-nutrient, chelates essential minerals that are vital for human health. In the past few decades, research reports emphasize extensively on phytate degradation in animals. There is a growing need for finding alternate strategies of phytate utilization in human, as they are unable to produce phytase. At this juncture, probiotics can be utilized for phytase production to combat mineral deficiency in humans. The main focus of this review is on improving phosphate bioavailability by employing two approaches: supplementation of (1) fermented food products that contain probiotics and (2) recombinant phytase producing bacteria. In addition, several factors influencing phytase activity such as bacterial viability, optimal pH, substrate concentration and specificity were also discussed.

Corneal ulcer due to a rare coelomycetes fungus Chaetomium strumarium: Case report and global review of Chaetomium keratomycosis

We present a rare case of corneal ulcer caused by a species of a coelomycetes fungus, Chaetomium strumarium. This fungal genus is a rare causative agent of keratomycosis, with only a handful of cases reported. The clinical presentation, investigative techniques, and preliminary management of our patient are reported. The cases reported in global literature are also summarized in a tabular form in the discussion.

Cutaneous infection with Cylindrocarpon lichenicola

A 32 year old female presented with a 4 year history of on and off dry scaly lesions in the webspaces. KOH mount of the skin scrapings was positive for fungal hyphae. The fungus was isolated on Sabouraud dextrose agar and identified as Cylindrocarpon lichenicola. The patient was treated and responded to itraconazole.

Burden of onychomycosis in rural India: Clinical and mycological assessment of the disease severity using Naildex score

Onychomycosis denotes fungal infection of the nail characte- rized by thickening, splitting, roughening and discoloration of nail and accessory structures due to dermatophytes, non-dermatophyte moulds and few yeast genera. Onychomycosis can have a lasting adverse impact on patient’s daily life, social functioning, physical and mental health; items collectively termed as ‘‘Quality of Life’’. The predisposing factors range from advancing age, trauma, geo-climatic conditions,occupation,social class,immune status of the host and associated superficial mycoses like tinea pedis.Naildex score first applied by Warshaw et.al.was used in this study to understand the burden of onychomycosis in agricultural workers in a rural community setting,and to assess the disease severity.

Renal fungal bezoar owing to Geotrichum candidum

Geotrichum candidum is yeast like fungi that cause infections in immunocompromised patients. We report a case of renal fungal ball with Geotrichum candidum in a 27 yr. old women post-partum. This case to our knowledge is the first case of renal fungal bezoar due to Geotrichum candidum reported in India.

Fulminant antiphospholipid antibody syndrome complicated by Aspergillus tracheobronchitis.

Aspergillus fumigatus is a filamentous mold that causes infections in patients who are inmmunocompromised. We report a case of Aspergillus tracheobronchitis in fulminant systemic lupus erythematosus case. Diagnosis with more invasive diagnostic procedures & aggressive antifungal therapy is indicated at early stage.

A simplified touch tape preparation from tube cultures for microscopic examination of filamentous fungi

Cellophane touch tape preparation provides reproducible results in minimal time when compared to tease mount and slide culture techniques for the identification of fungi from culture plates, but it is difficult to perform from tube cultures. Here, we describe an easy to perform touch tape preparation method that provided a better result from fungal tube culture.

The effect of 6 months or longer duration of chronic obstructive respiratory disease medication on the oral health parameters of adults: COPD MEDICATIONS AND ORAL HEALTH

The objectives of this study were to study the effect of COPD medication of 6 months or more duration on oral health parameters of adult patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess and compare the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT), oral hygiene index-simplified (OHI-S), periodontal disease index (PDI) scores, and presence of candida (colony-forming units [CFU]) among adult patients aged 20-45 years who had a history of 6 months or longer duration usage of chronic respiratory disease medications, with controls. A total of 170 participants each were taken in both the groups. Oral health parameters like DMFT scores (p ≤ 0.002), OHI-S (p ≤ 0.001), calculus scores (p ≤ 0.001), plaque scores (p ≤ 0.001), and CFU/ml of candida species (p ≤ 0.001) were higher among cases than controls. DMFT scores and candida presence were significantly higher among those whose treatment duration was greater than 5 years as compared to those with lesser duration. Gingival-periodontal component scores of PDI were lower among cases than controls (p ≤ 0.001). Our findings suggest the need for regular oral health maintenance for those under COPD treatment and for greater research into the possible protective role of inhaled corticosteroids in limiting periodontal disease among patients.

Biology of Pathogenic Actinobacteria

Abstract The potential role of actinobacteria at the frontiers of mammalian infectious diseases is often misapprehended. Most often they are overlooked, and their involvement conceivably cascades into the gray zones of routine diagnostic bacteriology and medical mycology. This chapter provides an impression of the unique structure, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy of pathogenic actinobacteria, with emphasis on the genus Nocardia. It explores the relatively undermined pathogenic prospect of members of this group. It begins with various phenotypic attributes such as morphology, physiology, growth requirements, and virulence profiles. It encompasses various diagnostic modalities, susceptibility profiles, protocols, and algorithms for phenotypic and genotypic identification. Towards the end, it comprehends the clinical significance, and management of actinobacteria associated infections will be discussed.